Out on a limb. PESS Sport Sciences support for amputee blade runner Simon Baker

Abstract:

On the 16th of January 2012 Simon Baker began a journey to run the Dublin City Marathon. No one has achieved this before. He underwent nine months of intensive training, but he didn’t do it alone. He had a professional team behind him: Jason Kenny, Strength Training and Nutritional Coach of Forever Fit Promotions, who headed up the project, along with Alan Ward (National 50m Pool Manager of the University Arena), Karen McCreesh and Neasa Canavan (Physiotherapy, University of Limerick), Dr Drew Harrison and Dr Ian Kenny, Biomechanics (PESS, University of Limerick) and Dr Brian Carson (Physiology, PESS, University of Limerick). The project was supported by Jan Ottoson and Donna Fisher from human prosthetics company IDS Independent Disablement Services & Otto Bock and Dave Mahedy Arena Manager, University of Limerick.

Running economy (RE) and velocity at maximal oxygen uptake
(VV_ O2max) are considered to be the best physiological performance
indicators in elite distance runners. In addition to cardiovascular
function, RE and (VV_ ...

Introduction
Economy is now thought to be one of the main performance indicators in elite distance runners. Economy is the amount of metabolic energy expended at a given velocity. In addition to cardiovascular capacity, ...

BACKGROUND:
Economy, velocity/power at maximal oxygen uptake ([Formula: see text]) and endurance-specific muscle power tests (i.e. maximal anaerobic running velocity; vMART), are now thought to be the best performance ...

Coaches’ knowledge of drills and their specificity to sprint movement patterns and muscle activations has become increasingly important. Drills are used to encourage the development of optimal movement and coordination. ...